Section 3.17 describes the procedures and specifications for determining volatile organic compounds as total gaseous non-methane organics from stationary sources. An emission sample is withdrawn from the stack at a constant rate through a heated filter and a chilled condensate trap by means of an evacuated sample tank. After sampling is completed, the total gaseous nonmethane organics are determined by independently analyzing the condensate trap and sample tank fractions and combining the analytical results. The organic content of the condensate trap fraction is determined by oxidizing the nonmethane organics (NMO) to CO2 and quantitatively collecting the effluent in an evacuated vessel; then a portion of the CO2 is reduced to CH4 and measured by a flame ionization detector (FID). The organic content of the sample tank fraction is measured by injecting a portion of the sample into a gas chromatographic column to separate the NMO from carbon monoxide (CO), CO2, and CH4; the NMO are oxidized to CO2, reduced to CH4, and measured by an FID. Quality assurance guidance is provided in Section 3.17.

"Emission Measurement Branch." "This guideline is Section 3.17 of the Quality Assurance Handbook for Air Pollution Measurement Systems, Volume III (EPA/600/4-77/027b)." "EPA-600/8-91/209." "May 31, 1991." Microfiche.